Word of the Day Archive
Tuesday October 6, 2009
burgeon \BUR-juhn\
, intransitive verb:
1. To grow or develop quickly; flourish.
2. To begin to grow or blossom.
transitive verb:
1. To put forth, as buds.
noun:
1. A bud; sprout.
They fought aggressively to bring their burgeoning industry under their control; in so doing, they also worked to elevate Cleveland over Pittsburg as a refining center (which they accomplished in 1869).
-- T.J. Stiles, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Avoid plants that will burgeon beyond bounds. The wide range of plants available includes many smaller species and cultivars that have been bred to stay compact.
-- Beth Botts, "A small space is just right for a secret garden", Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2009
Mr. Sprock often brought Novalee seeds and young plants for her garden, which was beginning to burgeon with color.
-- Billie Letts, Where the Heart Is
Burgeon is from Middle English burgeonen, from Old French borjoner, from burjon, a bud.
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for burgeon